Stop Child Abuse Now (SCAN) - 313

Tonight's special guest is Carole Ciurczak, coordinator of the Warren County New Jersey Child Assault Prevention (CAP) Program.  Operating since 1985 as a statewide community based prevention program, the New Jersey CAP has trained over 3 million children, parents and school staff in empowerment strategies which reduce children's vulnerability to abuse, violence and bullying. The motto of the CAP project is... "All Children Deserve to be Safe, Strong, and Free."  CAP seeks to integrate the best resources of a community in an effort to reduce a child or young person's vulnerability to verbal, physical and sexual assault. New Jersey's CAP projects work closely with the local school districts, parent/teacher associations and home school groups, and other community groups. CAP has a threefold educational approach to prevention which includes trainings in the following areas: Staff In service, Parent Program and Individual Classroom Workshops for children and teens. CAP is based on an empowerment philosophy. All of its curricula seek to reduce children's vulnerability to assault by increasing awareness that children have rights and providing prevention strategies and resources to children.